Greensboro, NC – Hailing from the Bronx, NY, Xavier Partee stands 6’1” and carries the energy of a rising star at NC A&T. After setting roots at Ben L. Smith High School, Partee joined the Aggies as a freshman jumper in 2023–24, and this sophomore year he’s made a major impact. Partee captured both indoor and outdoor Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) triple jump titles in 2025. In the Indoor, Partee Leapt 15.49 m (50′ 10″) to claim gold. Also, matched up with elite competition, he won again, jumping 52’1 at the CAA Outdoor Championships. His consistency across both seasons showcases his progression to elite status within the conference. Partee credits his ascent to a strong support system. His coaches, family and teammates have all been instrumental to his success. Xavier Partee’s sophomore campaign has been nothing short of spectacular. Winning conference titles, hitting personal and earning All‑American distinction definitely has him on path to greatness. As he works toward surpassing 16 meters, he’s cementing himself as NC A&T’s next triple jump luminary.
What first got you interested in track and field?
Originating from basketball roots, track and field has never been of particular interest for anyone around me. After finishing my senior season of basketball at Smith High school, I decided to try out track, just to say I’d done another sport. At this point it was already May, track season was basically over. I initially did high jump thinking the event would directly correlate to basketball, but I didn’t like it. After being convinced to try the triple jump, I became the number one jumper in my city, and won regionals, states and nationals. Going into college I arrived at a crossroads. Should I pursue my dreams in basketball, or explore a new world in track? Obviously I decided to explore track, and spent my freshman year of college as a normal student. However, I trained periodically for the triple jump with coach Roy Thompson. Going into my sophomore year of college, I was seen practicing alone on A&T’s track by no one other than Coach Johnson himself. Coach Johnson approached me and invited me to come try out for the track team, from there the rest is history.
Who has been your biggest influence or role model in the sport?
In the most humble way possible I’d say myself. Starting off so late in the sport, I didn’t really know much about the track world. Because of that, I only knew big names, most of which weren’t triple jumpers. It was easy to look to myself for inspiration because I was putting in an amount of work that I’d never put in before, for any other sport, I was becoming the D1 athlete I’d always wanted to be. On top of that, I felt like it was my duty to be a positive role model for my younger brothers, and I felt the best way to do that was to be someone I felt like I would look up to. I want to give myself shoes so big that even I myself would have to question if I could fill them.
When did you realize you had real potential as an athlete?
My first time realizing that I had potential as a track athlete specifically was actually when people started to voice to me that I was someone to look up to. When I began getting messages and having people approach me asking for advice, or just generally telling me that I’m doing well. It was all really a shock. The idea really solidified in my head after this season. Making it to Nationals and competing on such a stage with my lack of experience.
Walk us through a typical day of training for you.
At the height of the season, a typical day of training is actually pretty light. As a student athlete it’s always important to remember that we’re here as students first, and wouldn’t be able to be here if that wasn’t the case. My days always start off at study hall. We always have afternoon practice, and weights, so after study hall it’s normally straight to the track. As jumpers, we’re either having a sprint or jump day. 2-3 days out of the week. Followed by practice up with weights where we really try to challenge each other. After weights we get treatment and the day is done.
How do you balance school, social life, and training?
I’m a big believer in living the life you aspire to have. In this situation that means having a life that surrounds track right now, and that makes me feel completely fulfilled since I’m literally living out my dreams. Making it feel balanced is all about alignment for me. A lot of people would think that school would be stressful, but if it’s something that’s keeping me on the track, I then have no problem doing school work. As far as social life goes, just building a relationship with my team mates since these are people I see everyday and making sure my circle outside of track is small, filled with people who are accomplishing their own goals and people that are able to push me.
What’s the toughest part of your training routine?
The toughest part of my training routine is core, no question. I’ve never done a lot of core work, but as I get older I understand its importance more and more. I don’t know why core is such a big challenge for me, but out of everything it’s what I experience the most resistance to completing.
What event(s) do you specialize in, and why?
I specialize in the triple jump. Triple jump is what made me fall in love with the track, and triple jump is the part of track and field that I’ve fallen in love with. I’ve even begun to train in other parts of the track, just so I can be as good as possible at the triple jump as I can be.
What’s been the most memorable meet or race of your career so far?
The most memorable track meet for me has definitely been Nationals. I don’t even care that I was on the national stage, it was just the fact that I was able to accomplish something that didn’t even seem real months before. The fact that I was surrounded by all of the best collegiate athletes in the country, and the fact that I’m now considered one of the best collegiate athletes in the country. It was a real eye opener to what I could do here.
How do you mentally prepare before a big competition?
My preparation for track meets is pretty controversial amongst my teammates and me because I tend to be a very down to earth, go with the flow kind of person. I move pretty slowly, and I’m in my own world most of the time, so before competition I really just chill until it’s jump time. Mentally I may do some visualization, but outside of that, I don’t do much.
What keeps you motivated on tough days?
Some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten was to “find my why”. In moments where you’re feeling lazy, where you’re feeling discouraged, when you’re feeling tired, what is that one thing that’ll pick you back up. My “why” is the people who are watching me. My “why” is the people who are depending on me to show them that their dreams can be accomplished. My “why” is my brothers, my “why” is athletes trying to walk on to collegiate teams, my “why” is my family and all.
